Article Entry
17 Mar 2009
Comments:10
Intelligence Community Met with Apathy on Campus…Really?
Added by USGIF Category: Daily Intelligence Brief, General
It is not often that we reference stories from college newspapers on got geoint?, but we have to say this story was too good (and well written) to pass up and shine a light one. The South End, the official student newspaper of Wayne State University ran this story about the latest recruitment tactics by the Intelligence Community on campus. The most interesting part of this story is that the writer dives deep — speaking to many sources — about how the IC community is “taming” colleges and that recruitment tactics are largely met with apathy.
Now more than ever, the Intelligence Community’s Centers of Academic Excellence Program in National Security Studies has been ramping its efforts to build relationships between colleges, students and the IC — in an effort to build out a more diversified IC.
The following ten universities were designated for the launch of the program: WSU, California State University – San Bernardino, Clark Atlanta University, Florida International University, Norfolk State University, Tennessee State University, Trinity University, University of Texas – El Paso, University of Texas – Pan American and University of Washington.
The most interesting part of this article is that the presence of the IC on these college campuses has been met with apathy, as opposed to protest. At WSU, there were no protests, which was interesting for a school that had a tremendous amount of anti-CIA actions in the lats 1980s and early 1990s.
Why is this? Has the IC won the rather larger PR campaign on campus to change perceptions of it? Are young people more open to the option of having a career in the IC? Is being met with apathy better or worse than being protested? Finally, is the state of the economy shaping the response? Meaning that students are more open to career options in areas like the IC.
Ahhh…too many questions to ponder. Again, we want your feedback and comments to help illuminate this subject a bit more.
Tags: Centers of Academic Excellence Program in National Security Studies, Director of National Intelligence, GEOINT, Intelligence Community on Campus, Intelligence Community Recruitment, ODNI, Wayne State University, WSU
interesting selection of campuses. would think that intelligence institutions would place more emphasis on selectivity (i.e. – most selective criteria). that said, i think it’s a worthy effort to reach out to academic circles in order to lay the foundation for future career-building in what promises to be a critical arena for this country going forward.
Does the apathy stem from an overall student apathy towards their employment prospects? I doubt the apathy is directed specifically towards the IC but towards the future in general.
I think if I was a college student right now, I would be embracing any opportunity especially an IC based one that would provide benefits. The apathy must stem from an overall malaise concerning one’s economic future
The IC has not “tamed the beasts.” Today’s students are probably attracted to the IC, especially students who study technology. There is probably no better place to display your technological savvy then within the IC. A smart student would identify that th IC is best place to cultivate your technological-based education. The same would certainly apply to the Sciences and Languages.
I wonder if the lack of protest isn’t simply due to the population of students @ WSU, many of whom came to this country from areas of the world where people were not allowed to speak out against the govt.
I wonder if the lack of protest isnt simply due to the population of students at WSU, many of whom came from areas of the world where speaking out against the govt is unheard of.
When it comes to GEOINT one of the challenges is that the IC is very restrictive environment with respect to technological innovation. A decade ago the IC had the very best in terms of hardware and software. Students who make a move to the IC straight out of college in today’s world will likely find that the loads for ArcGIS, ERDAS IMAGINE, etc. are at least a version behind what they were using in college. Want to out some promising new software? Stand by for 5 months while it makes it’s way through engineering.
From Linked-In:
“From my perspective as a current student in a National Security program, I think the cooperation on part of the universities stems from the genuine recognition that National Security and Intelligence became a legitimate career track and deserves the same degree of training and oriented education as any other career. Historically people who ended up in intel either did so by happenstance and largely had only law degrees. While law school may make you skilled in making your argument, it doesn’t necessarily make you skilled in evaluating information. The CAE’s are a great step towards helping establish a generation of true analysts. Universities who are accepting funding for the CAE’s aren’t being bribed or taking part of a conspiracy to “brainwash” the next generation of leaders. They are genuinely contributing to national security through education.”
Its because “we got Obama”, Liberal students cannot complain.
From Linked-In:
“This is a very interesting read! I’m a Recruiter for one of those IC agencies and I have to say that the students typically embrace the IC agencies when on campus. We have ramped up our recruitment efforts over the past few years to gain the ‘best and brightest’ workforce. Going at it as an IC TEAM, vice individually, has become very successful and is on target with our IC collaborative mission. There has also become a certain glamour about working for the feds under the OBAMA Administration AND the fact the everyone is laying off when the feds are hiring doesn’t hurt. Thanks for sharing and listening. Dee”